KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Valley Authority is studying the value of electricity produced from small, dispersed sites, such as solar, wind or small gas turbine installations.

According to a news release from the utility, the initiative will develop methods to set the value of distributed generation to the electric grid and the value of the grid to the small energy producer. TVA will undertake the study with the help of local power companies and other stakeholders.

Solar energy will be the first resource investigated. The process is expected to last through the end of 2014. Public comments will be accepted and stakeholder group information will be posted at http://www.tva.gov/dgiv .

Currently, the utility relies on large, centralized power plants for most of its electricity.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.

US Congressman to present awards to elderly vet

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Officials from Rep. Paul Broun's office say the congressman is set to present an elderly veteran with several awards and medals.

Broun is scheduled to present 101-year-old Harry T. Catchpole of Bogart with the awards Friday at his district office in Athens.

Officials say Catchpole will be presented with the Army Good Conduct Medal, four bronze service stars, a World War II Victor medal and more Friday afternoon.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.

Immigrants' suit seeking in-state tuition tossed

ATLANTA (AP) — A judge in Atlanta has dismissed a lawsuit seeking in-state university tuition for young people brought to the U.S. illegally as children.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Fulton County Superior Court Judge John Goger said in an order this week that such lawsuits are barred because of sovereign immunity. But Goger was also sympathetic to the situation of the young immigrants and said it was "lamentable" that a court could not resolve the issue.

Attorney Charles Kuck filed the lawsuit and said Goger's decision would be appealed. Kuck said he and his clients are also considering taking action in federal court.

The roughly three dozen young immigrants who filed the suit have been granted temporary permission to stay in the U.S. under an Obama administration policy introduced in 2012.

Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.

Georgia officers may have lied about training hours

ATLANTA (AP) — Reviews suggest that at least 500 law enforcement officers in Georgia may have lied about fulfilling required training in the last year.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the police officers and sheriff's deputies may have taken advantage of a glitch in the new program used for online training courses.

The newspaper reports that law enforcement agencies across the state have been told to investigate whether their officers actually completed required training.

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